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686 locking up

Shot my 686 some yesterday with a friend. He did most shooting and it locked up several times. He would fire a shot then try to cock the hammer and the cylinder wouldn't turn or open without a lot of twisting / hassle. The final time it locked up I brought it home and had to smack the cylinder with a hammer to get it open.

.357 mag ammo was used. I cannot get it to occur dry firing empty. Gun was clean and I did not observe any debris around or under the extractor.

Re: 686 locking up

There is a recall for that issue, Its free including shipping. The gun comes back with a M after the model#
The problem is the primers are backing out of the case and locking the cylinder, takes about 10 days

Re: 686 locking up

Originally Posted by 104RFAST

There is a recall for that issue, Its free including shipping. The gun comes back with a M after the model#
The problem is the primers are backing out of the case and locking the cylinder, takes about 10 days

Is this with the newer 686s?

edited to add: NVM, I see it only applies to the 686 "no dash" and 686-1
Both of mine are -3

Last edited by knitepoet; 02-11-2018 at 10:26 PM.

Originally Posted by Seven habits of highly effective pirates

Rule #37: There is no “overkill”. There is only “open fire” and “I need to reload”.

Re: 686 locking up

A careful examination of the unfired cartridges after an unwanted lock up may help eliminate defective ammo as a possible cause as bullits jumping the crimp from recoil can cause lock up. Primer flow protrusion into the hole in the breech face where the firing pin goes through is also a potential cause. That model was repaired once under contract by S&W for the Customs Service for just such a failing.

686 locking up

Originally Posted by 104RFAST

There is a recall for that issue, Its free including shipping. The gun comes back with a M after the model#
The problem is the primers are backing out of the case and locking the cylinder, takes about 10 days

Re: 686 locking up

My 686 is a no-dash and I never sent it in for the fix.

The only time it locked up on me was back in the 80s with some Blazer 158 grain JHP............it was HOT................no problems since then with any of my hot reloads or any full house factory stuff since.

I thin there were other reports of that lot of Blazers back then being way over charged. I have fired newer Blazers since with no issues.

However, I range test any ammo I put in it before I load it for SD.

Could be simple as the crane coming loose/backing out.

Is yours any early no-dash/model?

What ammo were you firing? Have yo fired it before? Reloads or factory?

I know Blue Dot had to be backed off some, I believe in reloads for the .357 here a couple years ago

It's only true if it's on this forum where opinions are facts and facts are opinions
Words of wisdom from Big Chief: Flush twice, it's a long way to the Mess Hall
I'd rather have my sister work in a whorehouse than own another Taurus!

Re: 686 locking up

OK, an M and no-dash. Wekk you can eliminate the mod from S&W now. Ammo or it just worked itself loose, which happens.

It's only true if it's on this forum where opinions are facts and facts are opinions
Words of wisdom from Big Chief: Flush twice, it's a long way to the Mess Hall
I'd rather have my sister work in a whorehouse than own another Taurus!

Re: 686 locking up

Doesn't really bother me. I've never heard of how someone could do anything with it.

Originally Posted by zorba

I don't know either, but its not paranoia if they really *are* out to get you!

Someone gets it, then files a false report that "My S&W 686 sn _______ was stolen" And it gets entered into the system. If a cop or dealer ever runs your SN, they could 1) take your pistol and "return" it to the person that reported it stolen. 2) charge you with possession of stolen goods.

Not a HUGE risk, but one easily negated with 30 seconds worth of photo editing

Originally Posted by Seven habits of highly effective pirates

Rule #37: There is no “overkill”. There is only “open fire” and “I need to reload”.

Someone gets it, then files a false report that "My S&W 686 sn _______ was stolen" And it gets entered into the system. If a cop or dealer ever runs your SN, they could 1) take your pistol and "return" it to the person that reported it stolen. 2) charge you with possession of stolen goods.

Not a HUGE risk, but one easily negated with 30 seconds worth of photo editing

Re: 686 locking up

Originally Posted by knitepoet

Someone gets it, then files a false report that "My S&W 686 sn _______ was stolen" And it gets entered into the system. If a cop or dealer ever runs your SN, they could 1) take your pistol and "return" it to the person that reported it stolen. 2) charge you with possession of stolen goods.

Not a HUGE risk, but one easily negated with 30 seconds worth of photo editing

I've never heard of this in all my years as a LEO. I would appreciate references to this before I dismiss it as paranoia. Also dealers don't have access to NCIC on stolen firearms. The inefficent way it works as ANY serial number, regardless of make, is entered so a Ruby has the same as a 1911. Pages of interlocking SNs are recorded, since there is no indiscretion on model numbers.

Re: 686 locking up

Did the bullets pull in the cylinder charge holes making it hard to open/rotate?

Have you looked at the cylinder gap between the forcing cone and the cylinder face......slid a feeler gauge between them and see what the gap is?

It's only true if it's on this forum where opinions are facts and facts are opinions
Words of wisdom from Big Chief: Flush twice, it's a long way to the Mess Hall
I'd rather have my sister work in a whorehouse than own another Taurus!

Re: 686 locking up

My first thought is the problem I had with a Ruger Security Six that I owned. I mostly shot .38 Special lead ammo, and my cleaning was fairly superficial. I did not put particular emphasis on knocking out the carbon and lead ring that formed at the end of a .38 Special case, in each chamber. The cylinder would get tight and hard to shoot .357 magnum, because the cases were longer and pushed back against the frame. When I finally cleaned the chambers till they were smooth all the way through, it solved the problem.

Re: 686 locking up

Originally Posted by Gene L

I've never heard of this in all my years as a LEO. I would appreciate references to this before I dismiss it as paranoia. Also dealers don't have access to NCIC on stolen firearms. The inefficent way it works as ANY serial number, regardless of make, is entered so a Ruby has the same as a 1911. Pages of interlocking SNs are recorded, since there is no indiscretion on model numbers.

No Gene, but most dealers I know will run a serial# through the local PD before buying it, And in this state, pawn shops are SUPPOSED to

Originally Posted by Buford

I'm thinking Internet lore. I have paper work for every gun I have bought.

Buford, is , "Not a HUGE risk, but one easily negated with 30 seconds worth of photo editing" that hard to understand?

I didn't say it would, or even that it has. Doesn't mean it can't.

There's a reason most firearm magazines X out some part of most serial numbers, especially in letter from readers

Originally Posted by Seven habits of highly effective pirates

Rule #37: There is no “overkill”. There is only “open fire” and “I need to reload”.

Re: 686 locking up

No Gene, but most dealers I know will run a serial# through the local PD before buying it, And in this state, pawn shops are SUPPOSED to

Buford, is , "Not a HUGE risk, but one easily negated with 30 seconds worth of photo editing" that hard to understand?

I didn't say it would, or even that it has. Doesn't mean it can't.

There's a reason most firearm magazines X out some part of most serial numbers, especially in letter from readers

That's illegal if it involves NCIC. Not saying they don't do it, but for the operator doing NCIC, it's a felony. Running a # will get you hundreds of hits. In my state, it's caveat emptor. Of course, checking with the local PD will get you information not related to NCIC.

Re: 686 locking up

Originally Posted by Gene L

That's illegal if it involves NCIC. Not saying they don't do it, but for the operator doing NCIC, it's a felony. Running a # will get you hundreds of hits. In my state, it's caveat emptor. Of course, checking with the local PD will get you information not related to NCIC.

Said NOTHING about NCIC, I said, and YOU EVEN QUOTED me saying, "..Will run the serial# through the local PD..."

Originally Posted by Seven habits of highly effective pirates

Rule #37: There is no “overkill”. There is only “open fire” and “I need to reload”.